The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Poultry & Waterfowl => Topic started by: CrunchyKat on September 28, 2011, 04:40:26 pm
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I've got some chicks in a brooder but I'm reading conflicting advice in how long they need to stay there. Can anyone advise at what age they can come 'off-heat' please?
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This time of year about 6 weeks, you can gradually get them used to being outside on warm days from about 4 weeks old
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At this time of year i would be doing 8 weeks and then after 4 start turning the heat down about 5 deg every week till your at normal temp see how they get on they might be dying to get out at 6 weeks but i have had a lot of chick not make it if its 6 weeks
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I think you can sometimes harden them off a little sooner depending on the weather and brooder. What heat source you use could be a consideration too. Heat lamps don't offer much residual heat. An electric hen will stay warm for up to 30 mins after it's switched off.
We have some 3 week old chicks in a 4ftx4ft brooder in the shed. It's fully draft proof with a 4x4 run that's side boarded to prevent drafts. They are off the heat during the day. Only putting it on at 10pm till 6am. This nice weather is helping, if the temperature drops I might give them a bit of daytime heat for 1 more week, but I'm expecting to have them totally off the heat by 4 weeks. In the depths of winter though it's another matter! They'll soon start chirping very loudly if they are cold.